Tigers Fall Again to Rockies (6/12 Recaps)

Paul Wezner

06/13/2005

One would have thought the Tigers could have used a west coast swing against a slumping Dodgers club and a Rockies team that ranks among one of the worst in baseball. But after the six game set is complete, the Tigers return home with their tail between their legs after losing four of six, including the finale on Sunday afternoon.

Detroit Tigers - 28-32, 4th in AL Central
The Tigers looked to use a series against the Rockies to get their offense going and get some notches in the win column. Instead, they dropped two of three, including a rather pathetic showing Sunday afternoon as they lost 7-3. The Tigers sent Nate Robertson to the mound, but Robertson didn't pitch as he did over the past month, especially struggling in the fifth and sixth innings. Robertson gave up six runs on eight hits in 5 1/3 innings. Byung-Hyun Kim suddenly became a stud overnight, keeping the Tigers at bay as he gave up two runs in six innings to earn his first win of the season. Placido Polanco and Nook Logan each had a pair of hits in the loss, including Logan's first home run of the year. Returning home on a low note, the Tigers will hope to get something back on track when they host San Diego for a three game series starting on Tuesday. Jason Johnson takes the mound Tuesday night at 7:05pm, facing Jake Peavy. - Paul Wezner, Senior Editor

AAA Toledo Mud Hens - 37-25, 2nd in West division
After sweeping Pawtucket in their latest series at home, the Mud Hens have started their next series on the wrong foot losing their second straight to Ottawa 4-3 on Sunday. This time it was an eighth inning comeback by the Lynx that tied the game and a solo homerun in the top of the eleventh that sealed the victory. The Hens scored their three runs in the fifth and sixth innings. It was Carlos Pena who got the Hens started by scoring a run in the fifth and driving in one run in the sixth all while going 2-3 on the night with two walks and a strikeout. Kenny Baugh took a strong start into the eighth inning but got roughed up for the three runs before being replaced. Baugh only allowed four hits while striking out nine. The two teams return to action on Monday as the Hens try to cut into Indianapolis' one and a half game lead in the IL West at 7 p.m. - Doug DeSloover, Toledo Correspondent

AA Erie SeaWolves - 34-29, 3rd in Southern division
Erie had a grand slam of a good time (literally) as they beat New Hampshire 9-6. The SeaWolves' grand slam came courtesy of RF Bryon Gettis in the 6th. Erie was hot before the 6th arrived. Third baseman Chris Maples and CF Victor Mendez started the SeaWolves off when each drove in a run in the 4th. C Mike Rabelo continued the trend in the 5th when he singled in Erie's 3rd run to cut New Hampshire's lead to 6-3. LF Mike Woods scored in the 6th off a wild pitch by New Hampshire's Brian Reed. Gettis' 6th-inning grand slam pushed Erie to an 8-6 lead. DH Kurt Airoso sealed the deal in the 8th when he scored off a wild pitch by New Hampshire's Edward Buzachero. In 5 innings, Erie starting pitcher Jeremy Johnson gave up the Fisher Cats' 6 runs. Mark Johnson relieved in the 6th and came away with the win. Adam Peterson relieved in the 8th, followed by Edwin Almonte in the 9th. This game marks Almonte's 20th save of the season. Erie takes on the Akron Aeros Monday night at 7:05. Both teams are coming off a 2-game winning streak. Akron is 1st in the Southern Division of the Eastern League. - Paige Edelman, Erie Correspondent

High-A Lakeland Tigers - 42-19, 1st in West division
Lakeland defeated Ft. Myers 5-1 behind a dominant performance from new starting pitcher Randor Bierd. This was the second start for Bierd, who came down from Erie a week and a half ago. He pitched seven innings, gave up one run, one hit and a walk, while striking out four. Kevin McDowell came on in the eighth and threw two shutout innings to finish the game. Lakeland was up 1-0 after the first inning thanks to doubles by Vincent Blue and Kelly Hunt. The L-Tigers scored three more in the fourth. Derek Nicholson led off the inning with a double. The next batter, Garth McKinney, drove in Nicholson with a double. Eric Rodland hit a triple in the next at-bat to score McKinney, and Danilo Sanchez drove in Rodland with a RBI single.
McKinney finished two for three with two runs and a RBI. Sanchez went two for four with two RBI. Rodland was two for four with a run and a RBI.
Lakeland (42-19) is on a five-game winning streak and leading the division by five and a half games over Dunedin. The L-Tigers go up against the Dunedin Blue Jays in their next series. The first game is scheduled for Tuesday, 7pm. - Aaron Westgate, Lakeland Correspondent

A West Mich. Whitecaps - 28-35, 5th in East division
In a game that could easily have gone their way, West Michigan was edged out by Southwest Michigan 4-3 Sunday. On the mound, starter Dallas Trahern gave up seven hits, one run, and an inside-the-park home run to the Devil Rays' third baseman. Trahern's performance was solid right until his last inning when two wild pitches in a row prompted the call to the bullpen. Daniel Konecny, who came on with two out in the 7th and a 2-1 'Caps lead, took the loss. Konecny (2-5,
2.98) served up five hits and three runs to the Devil Rays. The 'Caps sluggers again had the hits but came up short on the scoreboard. Second baseman Brooks Colvin and right fielder Luis Sabino led the charge with two hits a piece. Colvin, shortstop Brent Dlugach, and center fielder Justin Justice contributed the RBIs -- one each. West Michigan now returns home for a three-game series with the Lansing Lugnuts. Play gets underway at Fifth Third Ballpark at 7:00 p.m. Monday.- Deb Ziegler, West Michigan Correspondent

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